Means for interchangeably mounting artificial teeth



1943. l. SLOMOVICI 2 ,310,155. MEANS FOR INIERCHANGEABLY MOUNTING ARTIFICIAL TEETH Filed May 26, 1941 2 INVENTOH )lsAAcsLomovxcl 56 F1431? Wm M ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 2, 1943 UNHTE STE TENT OFFICE MEANS FOR INTERCHANGEABLY MOUNTING ARTIFICIAL TEETH Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction and mounting of interchangeable teeth and is useful in connection with all forms of dental restoration involving the replacement of natural teeth by artificial teeth.

The object of the invention is to provide a generally improved denture and method of installa tion which eliminates all the serious objections and inconveniences characteristic of the dentures and methods of installation heretofore available for the replacement of natural teeth.

The usual methods employed for mounting an artificial tooth between natural teeth are open to the objection that the artificial tooth must be cemented to a part of the mounting means by cements which frequently have a discoloring effeet on the tooth. Dentists also find it a difiicult matter to obtain an exact reproduction of the form and fitting of damaged or broken artificial teeth which are cemented to the mounting means. The two principal methods now employed for the mounting of artificial teeth are also open to the objection that they provide an unsightly and relatively weak denture which is characterized by a high percentage of breakage and which is difiicult to repair or replace. According to one of these methods the artificial tooth is fastened by cement and mechanical fastening means to a metal saddle which is anchored to the natural or abutment teeth so that it rests on the portion of the gum underlying the gingival surface of the artificial tooth. Aside from the fact that it provides a relatively weak denture this type of mounting causes discomfort to the wearer owing to irritation of the gum by the metal saddle. In the second method the artificial tooth is held in place by a mounting including a metal casting which Covers the biting or occlusal surface of the artificial tooth and is anchored to the adjacent natural or abutment teeth. This type of denture is relatively weak and difficult to correctly fit in place and is also open to the additional objection of unsightliness.

due to the exposed metal overlying the occlusal or biting surface of the artificial tooth.

Both of the methods here referred to have also proven unsatisfactory in cases where it is necessary to replace a very narrow and short natural tooth which has been removed. If the ar tificial teeth which are mounted in accordance with these methods are ground down to a very small size they lose practically all their strength and must be replaced in a very short time due to breakage.

With the foregoing in mind a feature of the present invention resides in the provision 'o'fa denture in which the use of cement for securing the porcelain or other material constituting the artificial tooth proper to the mounting means is eliminated by forming and baking the porcelain or other material directly on a metallic reinforcing member which also constitutes a mount ing member adapted to be rel'easably interlocked with a complementary mounting member anchored to the natural or abutment teeth between which the artificial tooth is fitted. This not only eliminates discoloring of the artificial tooth which occurs when the tooth forming material is ce'- mented to the mounting means but also provides a stronger type of denture which enables the porcelain or other material of the artificial toot-h proper to be ground down to a very small size to fit very narrow and short cavities without me pairing the strength of the denture.

Another feature of the denture provided in ac cordance with this invention resides in the fact that, when the artificial tooth is mounted in place, the releasably interlocked complementary mounting members are completely [concealed from view except at the lingual surfaces of the teeth where portions of the mounting members are exposed so that they are accessible for the purpose of releasing the interlocking engagement therebetween to permit ready removal of the artificial tooth whenever this is necessary for repair or replacement purposes.

A- tur'ther important feature of the denture provide in accordance with this invention is that it leaves both the gingival accruing or occlusal surfaces of the artificial tooth free of metal coverings and enables the artificial tooth to be firmly mounted in place with the .gin'gival surface of the tooth touching the gum. Since the porcelain or other tooth forming material may be more highly glazed and polished as cempared with metal, cdl'ltact of such material with the gum does not produce the irritating effects of a metal saddle.

The foregoing and ther residues and advanages of the invention will be more readily understood from the renewing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,- in which- Fig. 1 is a view showing my improved denture as it appears when looking toward the front or outer surface thereof.-

Fig. 2' is a view' showing the denture as it appears when looking toward the inner or lingual surfacethereof. g

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken amon the line 33 of Fig. 1 and shows how the two complementary members of the artificial tooth mounting means are fitted together and releasably interlocked.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the mounting member which is anchored to the natural or abutment teeth.

Fig. 5 is a front end view of the mounting member shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the mounting member shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the tooth carried mounting member and shows the tooth cast there- Fig. 8 is a view looking toward the lingual surfaces of the tooth and mounting member shown in Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a modified form of tooth carried mounting member.

Fig. 10 is a rear end view of the mounting member shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a front end view of a modified form of mounting member adapted to be anchored to the natural or abutment teeth. and

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the member shown in Fig. 11.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, the artificial tooth 5 is mounted in place between the natural or abutment teeth 6 by releasably interlocked complementary mounting members generally indicated at A and B.

Member A is made of metal bent or shaped to provide a housing comprising a top wall I, a bottom wall 8 and a front end wall 9. The tooth 5 is made of porcelain or other material which is baked onto the outer surfaces of the Walls 1, 8 and 9 so that the member A lies between the occlusal surface H and the gingival surface [2. The tooth 5 is molded and baked in place so that the material thereof completely covers the outer surfaces of the three walls I, 8, and 9 but does not cover either the side edges of said Walls or the rear end edges of the walls I and 8. Anchoring projections l3 extend outwardly from the outer surfaces of the walls 1 and 8 adjacent the end wall 9 and are embedded in the material of the tooth 5 during the molding and baking thereof. In addition to reinforcing the portions of the tooth in which they are embedded these projections also serve to firmly anchor the tooth to the member A. If desired, the walls 1 and B may also be provided with small perforations [3a into which anchoring portions of the material of the tooth 5 are permitted to flow during the casting operation. Any other suitable method for anchoring the tooth 5 to member A may also be employed.

It is important to note here that the member A constitutes a definite metallic reinforcing backing for the tooth 5 in addition to constituting one of the mounting members by which the tooth is mounted in place.

The added strength imparted by the member A, including the anchoring projections l3, enables the tooth 5 to be made small enough to fit a very short and narrow cavity without impairing the strength of the tooth.

As shown more clearly in Figs. 7 and 8, a trapezoid-shaped block I4 is secured to the rearwardly facing surface of the end wall 9 of member A, said block being arranged with its narrowest side touching the lower surface of the wall 1 and with its widest side spaced a predetermined distance above the upper surface of the wall 8. The narrowest portion of the block [4 is provided with an extension l5 which is directed toward but termi- Rates in spaced relation to the rear end of the wall I. The lower or widest surface of the block [4 has secured thereto one end of a flat plate spring IS, the opposite end of which terminates in a downwardly directed projection l'l which is spaced from the wall 8 and lies directly below the rear end of the block extension l5. A threaded bore or socket I8 is provided in the block l4 immediately adjacent the attached end of the spring IE, it being noted that said spring 18 is provided with an intermediate upwardly bowed portion which lies in a plane slightly above the lowermost portion of the bore or socket [8.

The part B comprises a relatively thick plate [9 having its upper surface recessed to provide a groove 20 extending a predetermined distance rearwardly from the front end of the plate, the side walls of said groove being undercut so that the shape of the groove in cross section corresponds to the outline of the block M of member A.

Member B is secured in place between the abutment teeth 6 as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5 where it will be noted that the side edges of the plate l9 are soldered to inlays 2| carried by the teeth 6. The rear end portion of the plate 19 of member A is also provided with a longitudinally extending screw receiving opening 23, the front end of which opens into groove 20 and the rear end of which is enlarged to provide a screw head receiving recess 24. It will also be noted that a transversely extending recess 25 is provided in the upper surface of the bottom wall of the groove 20 at the rear or closed end of the groove.

After part B has been secured in place between the abutment teeth 6 the artificial tooth 5 is then fited into place by sliding the walls 1 and 8 of part A rearwardly over the top and bottom surfaces of the plate (9 of part B, the block I4 and its extension l5 being received in the groove 20. During this assembly of the parts the downwardly directed projections ll of spring l6 travels inwardly over the bottom wall of the groove 20 until it comes to rest in a position overlying the recess 25. The parts A and B are then secured against longitudinal separation by a suitable fastening screw 2611, the head 26 of which is received in the recess 24 and the shank 21 of which is passed through the opening 23 of part B and into threaded engagement with the bore or socket l8 of part A. As the shank 21 of the fastening screw is moved into engagement with the socket I8 it engages and depresses the upwardly bowed portion of the spring IS with the result that the projection I! at the free end of the spring is forced downwardly into the underlyin recess 25 to assist in holding the parts together. When the screw 26a is removed the projection ll of spring l6 returns to its normally elevated position with reference to the recess 25 so that the parts A and B may be easily and quickly separated to permit removal of the tooth 5.

If desired the spring l6 and recess 25 shown in Figs. .1 to 8 inclusive, may be omitted, in which case the parts A and B will be secured together in their assembled relation solely by the fastening screws 26a. In this suggested modification the trapezoid-shaped block I 4 may be dimensioned so that it completely fills the groove 20 when the parts A and B are assembled, it being necessary, of course, that the block 14 be provided with a threaded socket to receive the shank of the screw 26a.

A further modification of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive. In this case the parts A and B are constructed so that they are releasably latched together in their assembled relation. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the part A is provided with a trapezoid-shaped block I ia provided, near its rear end, with a downwardly opening recess [a, the rear wall of which is formed by a depending hook portion 51).

The slot 20 of part B (Figs. 11 and 12) communicates, at its rear end, with a cross slot 33 in which is slidably mounted a latch bar 3| having a slot 32 formed in its upper surface. The latch bar 3| is normally biased to the position shown in Fig. 12 by a spring extension 34 and is provided with a projection 33 having a beveled end 35 which, in the normal position of the bar 3|, extends across and partially blocks the inner end of the slot 20. The projection 33 is formed integral with one of the end walls of the slot 32 of the latch bar but is of less height than said walls. The spring extension 34 has its free end fitted in a kerf 36 and is bent so as to normally hold the latch bar 3| in the position shown in Fig. 12.

The parts A and B shown in Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive are assembled in the following manner: The top and bottom walls 1 and 8 of part A are slid rearwardly over the top and bottom surfaces of the part B. During this assembly the block Ma slides rearwardly along the groove 20. As the hook I51) of said block passes rearwardly beyond the rear end of the groove 20 it engages the beveled surface 35 of the projection 33 and forces said projection to one side of the slot 20 against the resistance of the spring extension 33. As soon as the hook 152) passes beyond the projection 33 the latter springs back to its normal position and enters the recess I511 behind the hook l5b. The parts A and B are thus securely interlocked until pressure is applied by the finger or otherwise to the end are of the latch bar 3| to move the latch bar against the resistance of the spring 34 whereby the projection 33 is moved to a position clear of the hook l5b thereby permitting the block Ma to be withdrawn from the groove 20.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

L. A mounting for interchangeable teeth com prising a plate member adapted to be secured to abutment teeth bordering the gap to be filled so that said plate extends horizontally across said gap with one horizontally extending surface spaced a predetermined distance from the occlusal surfaces of the abutment teeth and the other horizontally extending surface spaced a predetermined distance from the portion of the gum lying between said abutment teeth, and a tooth-carrying backing and reinforcing member comprising a top wall, a bottom wall and a front end wall forming a housing adapted to be removably assembled with said plate member by sliding the top and bottom walls of the housing rearwardly over the top and bottom surfaces of the plate member and fastening means for releasably securing said members in their assembled relation, said fastening means comprising a screw adapted to be passed through an opening in one member and into threaded engagement with a socket provided in the other member and a spring latch carried by one member and adapted to be forced into interlocking engagement with a part of the other member by engagement with said screw as the latter is screwed into said socket.

2. A mounting for interchangeable teeth comprising a plate member adapted to be secured to abutment teeth bordering the gap to be filled so that said plate member extends horizontally across said gap with one of its horizontal surfaces spaced a substantial distance from the occlusal surfaces of said abutment teeth and its opposite horizontal surface spaced a predetermined distance from the portion of the gum lying between said abutment teeth, said plate member being provided with a groove extending a predetermined distance inwardly from the front end thereof and a tooth-carrying backing and reinforcing member comprising a top wall, a bottom wall and a front end wall forming a housing adapted to be removably assembled with said plate member by sliding the top and bottom walls of the housing rearwardly over the top and bottom surfaces of the plate member, said housing being provided with a block adapted to enter said groove during assembly of the housing or tooth carrying member with the plate member and means for releasably securing said members in their assembled relation.

3. A mounting for interchangeable teeth comprising a plate member adapted to be secured to abutment teeth bordering the gap to be filled so that said plate extends horizontally across said gap with one horizontally extending surface spaced a predetermined distance from the occlusal surfaces of the abutment teeth and the other horizontally extending surface spaced a' predetermined distance from the portion of the gum lying between said abutment teeth, and a tooth-carrying member comprising a top Wall, a bottom Wall and a front end wall forming a housing adapted to be removably assembled with said plate member by sliding the top and bottom walls of the housing rearwardly over the top and bottom surfaces of the plate member and fastening means for releasably securing said members in their assembled relation, said fastening means comprising a key forming block carried by one member and adapted to be received in a groove provided in the other member and a spring latch carried by the last mentioned member adapted to releasably engage a part of the key forming block to hold said members against accidental separation.

4. A mounting for artificial teeth comprising a plate member adapted to be mounted in a position extending horizontally between abutment teeth bordering the gap to be filled, a toothcarrying backing and reinforcing member comprising a top wall, a bottom wall and a front end wall forming a housing adapted to be removably assembled with said plate member by sliding the top and bottom walls of the housing rearwardly over the top and bottom surfaces of the plate member after the latter has been mounted in place between the abutment teeth, said tooth carrying member being provided with a key adapted to enter a groove provided in the plate member during the aforesaid assembly of said members and said plate carrying member being provided with a manually releasable spring actuated latch adapted to engage in a recess provided in said key during assembly of said members whereby said members are held against accidental separation until the latch member is manually operated to a releasing position.

5. A mounting for artificial teeth comprising a plate member adapted to be secured to abutment teeth bordering the gap to be filled so that said plate member extends in a substantially horizontal direction across said gap with one horizontally extending surface spaced a predetermined distance from the portion of the gum lying between said abutment teeth, a metal tooth-carrying backing and reinforcing member comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and a front Wall forming a housing open at the sides and rear, said housing being adapted to be removably assembled with said plate member by sliding the top and bottom Walls of the housing rearwardly over the top and bottom surfaces of the plate member, tooth forming material secured to the outer surfaces of the top, bottom and front Walls of said tooth-carrying backing and reinforcing member so that said material completely covers the outer surfaces of said walls but neither fills nor bridges the space between the top and bottom walls, a substantially trapezoid-shaped key forming block secured to the underside of the top wall of said tooth-carrying backing and reinforcing member and adapted to be received in a correspondingly shaped groove provided in the plate member during assembly of said members and means carried by the plate member and adapted to engage a part of said key forming block to secure said members against accidental separation.

ISAAC SLOMOVICI. 

